CLAIM: When Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador rode in the U.S. presidential limousine sometimes referred to as “the beast,” it marked the first time a foreign leader traveled in the vehicle with a U.S. president.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. Several world leaders have traveled in the U.S. presidential Cadillac, including French President Emmanuel Macron, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinz Abe and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
THE FACTS: President Joe Biden’s visit to Mexico this week for a summit of North American leaders began with a ride in his heavily armored presidential limousine sometimes referred to as “the beast.”
Biden and López Obrador rode together in the vehicle, chatting while driving into Mexico City, according to Associated Press reporting.
Social media users responded to news reports of the drive with false claims that it was “unprecedented” or abnormal for a foreign president to travel in the presidential limousine.
“It’s the first time that a foreign leader travels on board with a U.S President,” one Twitter user wrote.
“President Biden and past US presidents travel the world and are met by host leaders, but the protocol is that POTUS always rides alone or with family/staff in the Beast,” wrote another. “Tonight in Mexico there’s a break in that protocol with President Lopez Obrador aboard the presidential car.”
But news reports over the years confirm several foreign leaders have shared the vehicle with U.S. presidents.
For example,...
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